U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Loewenthal Metals - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Subject: POLREP #6
Progress
Loewenthal Metals
C5C2
Chicago, IL
Latitude: 41.8552702 Longitude: -87.6498706

To:
From: Steven Faryan, On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 7/31/2013
Reporting Period: 7/29/2013 - 8/2/2013

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: C5C2    Contract Number: EP-S5-09-05
D.O. Number: 0121    Action Memo Date: 4/22/2013
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 6/24/2013    Start Date: 6/24/2013
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: ILP00510081    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Time Critical Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description
Based on historical aerial photos, the Site was home to a large smelting facility and associated railroad spur which operated during the 1940s.  In the 1940 Standard Metal Directory, Loewenthal Metals Corporation is listed under aluminum, antimonial lead.  The smelter ceased operations in the early 1950s.  It appears that the building was razed after that time and all of the demolition debris was buried on site and covered with soil.   The building demolition debris was used to fill the basement.
 
1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is located at 947 West Cullerton Street in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (Figure 1-1).  It is situated near the center of the Pilsen neighborhood, a primarily residential area.  The coordinates of the Site are 41°51’19” North latitude and 87°39’0.6” West longitude.  

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Metal constituents found at the Site which exceeded the U.S. EPA Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) include lead, arsenic, copper, mercury, and zinc. Lead and Cadmium were detected in the soil above the RCRA characteristic values.(See Action Memorandum for Threats)

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See POLREP 1
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
On July 29, 2013, crews treated stockpiled soil that had been excavated the week prior with Free Flow fixating agent and staged the treated soil for off-site disposal. They also began to excavate the next section of soil, treating with the fixating agent as they did so.

On July 30, 2013, crews continued to treat soil along eastern edge of excavation pit with fixating agent in-situ, and excavate into piles staged for off-site disposal. Crews also began to remove remaining side wall of soil left between the excavation pit and adjacent building on west side of property, as well as scraping the floor of the excavation pit and removing any loose sections of concrete slab. Nine truckloads (234 tons) of engineered sand were dropped off throughout the day which crews began using to backfill excavated areas.

On July 31, 2013, crews resumed backfilling of excavated areas and removing sidewall of soil left between the excavation pit and adjacent building on west side of property. 300-350 tons of engineered sand was dropped off throughout the day which crews used to backfill excavated areas.

On August 1, 2013,

During all Site operations, START has set-up DataRam units and Personal DataRam (PDR) units to monitor all dust/particulates on and off Site.  All data Ram and personal data ram readings have been near or at back ground dust levels for the area (10-100 ug/m3).  Average concentrations of dust have been 15-45 ug/m3.  All site operations are being conducted using a water fog with a fire hose to minimize dust levels. The action level for nuisance dust is 500 ug/m3.

A personal data ram has been deployed in the cab of the excavator to monitor dust levels for on site personnel.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
US EPA's contractor Environmental Restoration is in the process of treating and excavating soil from 2 feet below ground surface to the original building's concrete foundation (approximately 5-5.5' below grade). Treated and excavated soil is being staged on the northeastern edge of property for off-site disposal. Crews are then backfilling excavated areas with engineered sand.
Samples were collected from the treated soil and demolition debris and analytical results are pending.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The owner of the property has been identified, but has been non- responsive to repeated attempts to arrange for access to the property.

The U.S. EPA has obtained a warrant from a U.S. Magistrate to conduct the Site Assessment and Emergency Removal Action.

U.S. EPA has recently identified that an investment firm, Sabre Investments LLC, has purchased the back taxes for the property but has not yet filed the deed. 
  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
ERRS contractors will continue fixation and excavation of soil down to concrete foundation of original building.  The excavation will continue to bbe back-filled with engineered sand from a local manufacturer. A layer of top soil will be spread and seeded to prevent erosion

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
ERRS will excavate the Site down to approximately 5.5 feet in areas where there is a basement and it will be back-filled with clean material.  In areas where there is no basement, test pits have been conducted and the sand and clay layer is at 2.2 to 3.0 feet.  The excavated material will be fixated on-Site and shipped off for disposal. The XRF unit will be used to screen the soil after excavation to field verify removal clean up standard.  Post removal samples will be collected and sent to lab.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
ERRS contractors will continue with the excavation and disposal of soil and concrete as necessary. Free Flow 100 will be used at a 5 % mix rate to stabilize on site hazardous soil to render the material non-hazardous. Crews will continue to backfill excavated areas. 
 
2.2.2 Issues
Inclement weather at the Site has continued to be a concern on site.  Monitoring of weather forecasts will be included in the morning Site Health and Safety Meeting.
  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
Nick Michaileas- ERRS Health And Safety Officer
Tonya Balla - START Health And Safety Officer

2.5.2 Liaison Officer

2.5.3 Information Officer

Heriberto Leon has been meeting routinely with the neighborhood community groups.  Fact Sheets were handed out in the 1/2 mile square area around the property.  A public meeting and open house were held to provide facts and answer questions from the residents.  An open house was held at the neighboring Resurection project apartments to brief the residents and media and answer questions.

U.S. EPA has provided fact sheets, lead fact sheets and protecting your family from lead, gardening with lead contaminated soil to the lPilsen farmers market.  All of the fact sheets have been reproduced in English and Spanish. 

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
US EPA is the lead agency on Site.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
4. Personnel On Site
  US EPA (1)
ERRS (4)
START (1)
5. Definition of Terms
  RSL - Regional Screening Level
RML - Removal Management Level
ERRS - Emergency Removal and Response Services
START - Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
XRF - X-Ray Fluorescnece 
6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/loewenthal/

6.2 Reporting Schedule

POLREPs will be generated on a weekly basis during removal activities on-Site. The POLREPS are posted to the website under a public view.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.